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Ruidoso Downs races to be broadcast

Dianne L Stallings, Ruidoso News
Published 1:57 p.m. MT May 17, 2016

Network dedicated to equestrian lifestyle will broadcast key races this season at Ruidoso Downs

The village of Ruidoso kicked in $15,000 toward the cost of televising over RIDE TV several key quarter horse races this coming season at Ruidoso Downs. Village Councilor Rafael "Rifle" Salas asked for the item to be scheduled on the agenda, citing the tourism exposure for Ruidoso.

Robert Donaldson with Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino was on hand at the council meeting last week to answer questions. To be televised are the trials of the Rainbow and All American Futurity and Derby, as well as the finals of each of those races that composed the Triple Crown of quarter horse racing.

"There will be nationwide attention on this series," Salas and Village Manager Debi Lee wrote in their memorandum to the council. "The eyes of racehorse fans and horse lovers in general will be on these races providing a great opportunity to market Ruidoso and the city of Ruidoso Downs nationwide."
RIDE TV, based in Forth Worth, Texas, is televised on DISH and besides coverage of racing, produces programs on subjects that include the Extreme Mustang Makeover and Horses That Heal. It is the nation's first and only 24-hour, high definition equestrian network dedicated to the equestrian lifestyle and culture, according to information supplied about the network. The target audience is horse enthusiasts ages 25 through 54.

"For the first time ever, all six races will have an estimated purse of more than $1 million, Donaldson, listed as a public relations specialist for the racetrack and casino, said. "The All American Derby is estimated at $2.5 million and the All American Futurity at $3 million. The eyes of race horse fans and horse lovers in general will be on these races."

Two days of trials for each of the futurities will be televised for a six day total of 12 to 15 races, he said. Three days of trials for the Derbies will amount to 10 to 12 races each day. The Derby and Futurity trials are on the same weekends. The finals are two weeks after the weekend of the trials.

"All of these (races) spread out over the summer from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend," Donaldson said. "Ride TV will provide for all production and broadcast costs. Ruidoso Downs will provide all video feeds and hosting of the RIDE TV broadcast and production staffs during the race days. Both RIDE TV and Ruidoso Downs will market these broadcasts through their own advertising programs to drive people to the broadcasts."

In return for the village's participation, it will receive 250 thirty-second advertisements spread out over the 15 days, Donaldson said. The six finals shows will each be a two-hour show with the usual race build up. The trials will be different, he said. The race day for trials is about five to seven hours with races starting about every half hour.

RIDE TV will show each race live, beginning with the post parade right through the finish, which will run about eight to 12 minutes, Donaldson said. Then the network will show other horse appropriate programming between the trial broadcasts, for about 20 minutes.

"This is an opportunity to expose nationally what we as a community have to offer to horse and outdoor oriented people, who may have little knowledge of us," Donaldson said.

As a first for Ruidoso Downs, all of the races broadcasts will be live and available to a nationwide audience, he said, adding, "We see this as a great opportunity to expose race and horse fans to the Ruidoso area in a visual medium.

"They may know the name of Ruidoso Downs from its results in the newspaper, but not really know what the greater Ruidoso area really is and has to offer, not just with horse racing, but with all of the vacation and recreational experiences that exist here."